Installing Pedro's Hi-Flo Air Intake 986 2.5L

[Pianohawk]

Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer

Sorry, but I just can't endorse using plumbing materials from Home Depot on an automotive application.

Want to do this the right way? Get the appropriate sized silicone elbows, aluminum hard pipe, and silicone joiners.

Aside from that, on a stock motor, what is supposed to be the gain here? It's been proven that the factory airbox and filter flow plenty enough air for the motor, and inserting thick wall PVC pipe (which probably has a smaller inside diameter than the factory thin wall plastic) and Fernco elbows (the black rubber things) between the air box and throttle body is not going to get you any increase in air volume sucked through the throttle body.

You say it's been proven that increasing the air intake stock tube with a larger one doesn't increase air into the TB but you didn't give any source or cite any dyno or study. While I, from personal experience as well as from testimonials from several trusted porsche friends and mechanics, know that installing a bigger air intake = more air to the TB. Plus, after 12 year, the stock air intake tube was in pretty bad condition.

After installing pedro's hi flow air intake, my idle steadied significantly and my shifts into 2nd, 4th, and 5th gear are much smoother! Highly recommended mod. Try it Mr. Cloudsrufer before you diss what you can't personally substantiate. : )

[Lobo1186]

and pianohawk another mod I might add that is simple and cheap is to repaint your grill vents. I see from your pic they are faded a bit. so were mine. but I went in there took them off scraped them down and repainted them and now they are pure black and pretty as ever! just a suggesttion.

it makes your car look much younger!

[Pianohawk]

Good idea. I've thought once or twice about it but am not sure how to take the grills off or sand them. What kind/brand of black paint did you use?

[Lobo1186]

well unfortunately to get them out you need to remove the bumper honestly it doesnt take long at all. with the correct drivers maybe 5-6mins (maybe more the first time since you are trying to find all the screw points) after that they pop right out.

using a paint scraper or razor blade you need to scrape off the gray faded plastic. takes a little while but the preparation is key seeing as painting plastic is tricky. I used whatever satin black paint I had lieing around I think it was rotor paint LOL but I know bondo makes a satin black plastic paint. after that spray paint away let dry and put it and viola 100 times better looking.

the plus side is if you do need ur car daily and you want some extra time to prep you can just put the bumper on with the grills while you prep and paint also great benefit you can clean your radiators!

[Cloudsurfer]

While there may possibly (and I'll emphasize "possibly") be gains to be had in drivability from ditching the stock intake on a stock motor, I'm still going to stick by my original statement that if you want to do this, at least do it with automotive components, not plumbing department parts.

I've made plenty of air intakes on cars (including the one on my Boxster), and always used aluminum tubing (typically from Vibrant) and silicone couplers and elbows (typically from Samco).

On the topic of smoothness, the latest studies on fluid dynamics actually show that a slightly rough surface flows better than a perfectly smooth one, due to boundary layer separation.

[yimmy149]

Instead of painting the vents black, just order some vinyl dye. Much easier than scraping, and they will look like new when done. Then protect them with 303 aerospace.

-james

[Lobo1186]

Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer

While there may possibly (and I'll emphasize "possibly") be gains to be had in drivability from ditching the stock intake on a stock motor, I'm still going to stick by my original statement that if you want to do this, at least do it with automotive components, not plumbing department parts.

I've made plenty of air intakes on cars (including the one on my Boxster), and always used aluminum tubing (typically from Vibrant) and silicone couplers and elbows (typically from Samco).

On the topic of smoothness, the latest studies on fluid dynamics actually show that a slightly rough surface flows better than a perfectly smooth one, due to boundary layer separation.

to each his own I guess. similarly I had hand made cat bypass pipes made for my car for 40 dollars is it polished stainless? nope is it preferable? i suppose. it cost me 40 dollars instead of 300 from fabspeed so maybe theirs are better fabbed but in the end id rather pocket the 260 bux.

with this the pvc is easy to come by and easy to install and if there are limited to no gains as you say then so be it, but hey it sounds better than stock and is cheaper than buying aluminum and their parts.

and yimmy thanks for the advice on the vinyl dye and 303 (i got that stuff its great)

[Cloudsurfer]

Originally Posted by Lobo1186

to each his own I guess. similarly I had hand made cat bypass pipes made for my car for 40 dollars is it polished stainless? nope is it preferable? i suppose. it cost me 40 dollars instead of 300 from fabspeed so maybe theirs are better fabbed but in the end id rather pocket the 260 bux.

with this the pvc is easy to come by and easy to install and if there are limited to no gains as you say then so be it, but hey it sounds better than stock and is cheaper than buying aluminum and their parts.

and yimmy thanks for the advice on the vinyl dye and 303 (i got that stuff its great)

The Fabspeed are better. Why? Theirs are mandrel bent, yours are not. Nevermind stainless or polished, they simply flow better. Is the difference appreciable? I have no idea.

The beautiful thing about human nature is that what works for one of us may not work for the other. If you're happy, that's all that matters in the end.